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Western Hall

The Magic of Western Hall

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Built-in 1964, the home of the Western Illinois women’s basketball team has witnessed unforgettable moments in recent years.

"It's not this big extravagant place where you look up, and the fans seem like they are miles and miles away. Everybody is packed in and right there, right next to you. You feel the energy from them, and you hear everything. You get that Magic feeling when it gets really loud and exciting."

That's how Taylor Higginbotham describes Western Hall.

Built-in 1964, the home of the Western Illinois women's basketball team has witnessed unforgettable moments in recent years. The ones that fans, players, and coaches are going to talk about for years to come. 

At one point, the program owned the nation's longest home-court winning streak of 46 games that spanned nearly four years.

Nicknamed "The Hall," it is one of 11 college basketball venues with the honor of having Hall attached to it. 

And The Hall was the place to be this basketball season. The Leathernecks owned an 11-3 record inside and tied for third all-time in home victories in a season, two shy of the program record. 

Inside one of those dubs, was a special moment for Olivia Kaufmann.

The senior joined the 1,000 point club on January 9 with a three-pointer to begin the second quarter. 

Becoming the 19th player in program history to accept membership, the 17th had already made plans to return to Macomb at the next game, not knowing she would be there to welcome Olivia into the honor. 

"As I walked out there, I was like wait was this planned, but it worked out that way," Olivia said. "That made me a little more emotional since it meant a lot coming from Taylor. She has been my rock through the four years here and vice versa. Having her there was meant to happen."

It was an emotional return for both at center court. 

"I thought how awesome it was just to be able to attend that game and see her get presented the ball, Taylor said. "Then for me to be a part was really emotional. We talked about it afterward how we both had to hold in our tears."

The moment for the duo was sentimental for fans too, as moments of Higginbotham's career radiated. 

She too joined the 1K club inside Western Hall and another special moment was on the horizon. 

Coming off a 20 win season and a trip to the Women's National Invitational (WNIT), Western experienced a year of retooling and Taylor was the glue to keep it moving forward. She became the program's all-time leading scorer on (Feb. 3, 2019), eventually finishing her career with 1,806 points. 

There wasn't a better feeling than doing it at home in front of the best fans, she remembers. And all of the hugs she received afterwards made it special. 

"This place, this school, this town, the whole thing, just means a ton to me," said Taylor postgame. "I came in here as a freshman, and I felt when I came on my visit that this place was going to be home for me and it has. For me to make the community proud and see all the smiles and congratulations, it means the world to me – just to be able to give back to the place that has done so much for me, giving me the opportunity to make my dreams come true. It's a good feeling." 

In that game, the torch was passed as Taylor surpassed her former teammate and former assistant coach Emily Wieskamp (nee Clemens) for the scoring title. 

The torch came with a lot of weight as Emily is considered one of the greatest Leathernecks of all-time.

A snapshot of her resume includes: 
Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American - NCAA Women's Basketball Starting Five Weekly - The Summit League Tournament All-Decade Team - Summit League Player of the Year and Tournament MVP - First Team All-Summit League - Western Illinois Female Athlete of the Year

And much, much more. 

The native of Muscatine, Iowa, was the focal point in the 2016-17 season that clinched an NCAA Tournament berth for the second time in program history.

Similar to O and T-Higgs, she also scored her 1,000 point inside the Hall.

Emily received award after award during that stretch of the season. But this one would be on the back burner. 

Battling for sole possession of The Summit League, four made free throws during the final 16 seconds sealed the 83-77 victory over South Dakota State and put the Leatherneck all alone at the top. 

An ignited crowd fueled the atmosphere as WIU snapped a 19-game skid against the Jackrabbits. 

"The place was packed and it was a highlight of my playing career just in the fact that we could do it at home," said Emily. "I have to ultimately credit the crowd and student fan base, they played a huge role down the stretch and were really loud."  

Ten days later and on Senior Day, the Purple and Gold defeated South Dakota to lay claim on the regular-season title outright. 

The game and moment seem like yesterday, Taylor says.

"Coming in as a freshman, I would have never thought what we would accomplish in that gym. The energy was definitely there and I think that was part of it to be able to have the crowd involved and just the loudness gives me chills thinking about it."

A season before also brought history to Western Hall in dramatic fashion. 

After earning a late invite to the Women's Basketball Invitation (WBI), the players turned around from trips to Georgia, California, and an hour from a flight to Mexico for the postseason game. 
 
The altered spring break trips turned into a Molary Boyle buzzer-beater that gave Western Illinois it's first-ever postseason victory in Division I basketball history, men's or women's.

A player that hardly received accolades or set any records, she was the heart and soul of the team, and the magic inside the Hall rewarded her. 

At the helm of all these historical moments has been head coach JD Gravina. 

He too this season added another accolade to his career inside Western Hall. His 250th career win as a coach. 

He was hired in 2011 and quickly his family became part of the community. 

"Once you get in this place, you feel this love and support, it enhances everything you do. When you get your 250th win in front of people who truly care, that want to tell you a good game at dinner, that makes it special." 

Those that make their way constantly to Western Hall aren't just ordinary fans. They mean more. They are family to the team. And they greet them immediately after the final buzzer. No matter the result. 

Moments like those are always etched into Olivia's memory.

"You just light up their world. They ask, can I have your autograph? As a kid growing up that's something you think about, oh I am going to practice my autograph, someday that'll happen. For those kids to give you that opportunity and for that to happen along with all of the familiar faces in the stands is truly special. It means so much to them and something you don't think about since you are focused on the game." 

Every player receives that same love, no matter their role on the team or how they performed in the game.

"Our fans aren't fairweather, and they don't want to just interact with the superstars," said JD. "They want to interact with all of our players and get to know them as people more."

JD adds they are more realistic than the average fan, and that makes a great home court mentality. 

"At home, some teams start to feel increased pressure. When things aren't going well you really start to hear really negative things, like rebound! And everyone is on them. Our fans sometimes will watch us play a bad game and then respond with a better crowd at the next."

Those loyal supporters are the ones that make all the sacrifices worth it and the ones you want to get every ounce for. 

"You see some older fans that make it out in the snow, ice, rain and the loyal fan base we talk to after each game as a coach and a player and the intimate relationships of those that consistently attend the games at Western Hall are the ones you do it for," Emily said. 

At a game, strangers are surrounded by the player's family and are immediately welcomed into it. Building to the camaraderie that fills the place.

That translates into energy, which has helped the team erase countless opponent leads and seal off games. 

"There are moments like that, but you are in-game mode so you don't fully experience it," said Taylor. "However there are moments like that where you can't help but take in the fact that everyone in the game is involved." 

JD adds, "When we make a big run, it feels the same as a big-time NCAA men's game. I think that it's because the fans are so invested. They aren't just cheering on their team, they are a part of it."

It might not have the bells and whistles, but what is important is the people inside Western Hall. That's what will make you happy long term. They are associated with it and have produced lifelong memories forever for the players, coaches, and the program. 

They are the Magic of Western Hall. 
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